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Turffontein runners, 12 November
November 12, 2023
The Mike de Kock-trained Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-homebred Gimme A Nother made it two from two at Turffontein Standside today and she did it easily too, reports TURF TALK.
She is by champion stallion Gimmethegreenlight out of the Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein twice Gr 1-winning champion homebred Nother Russia (Tiger Ridge), who in turn was the only foal produced by the four-times Gr 1-winning champion Mother Russia (Windrush).
Gimme A Nother, post race.
The Normandy Stud-bred Mother Russia was originally acquired for R160 000 at the 2007 Grandwest Yearling Sale and was trained by Joey Ramsden for Klawervlei Stud until she was sold to Wilgerbosdrift in a private deal and moved to De Kock in the latter part of her three-year-old season, by which stage she already had one Gr 1 under the belt (Majorca Stakes). She went on to win the Gr 1 Paddock Stakes, the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes and the Gr 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.
She passed away after giving birth to just one foal, Nother Russia, who won the Gr 1 Enpress Club Stakes twice.
Gimme A Nother is Nother Russia’s second foal.
Her first foal is Querari filly Sharapova, who has one win, five seconds and two thirds in all of her eight starts.
Mother Russia raced in the Mary Slack colours, but Nother Russia raced in her daughter and son-in-law Jessica and Stephen Jell’s Mauritzfontein colours and so does Gimme A Nother.
Nother Russia was ridden in every single one of her starts by Craig Zackey, but Gimme A Nother is the ride of JP van der Merwe.
JP had Gimme A Nother handy from draw five out of nine in today’s 1600m fillies and mares handicap event and after a bit of early scrimmaging she was caught one out and one back without cover, which was not ideal.
Mary’s Greenlight, overdue win.
However, she relaxed quite well and clearly has a big engine.
She made steady progress until the 2000m when changing legs and quickening superbly to burst clear.
She won easing up by two lengths from a running on Summer Fling.
Time will tell whether that engine is as big as her grandmother’s.
She only ran off an 84 merit rating today, but Van der Merwe called her “a quality filly who won’t stop here.”
De Kock, Van der Merwe, the Oppenheimer family and Gimmethegreenlight also won the first race with the Wilgerbosdrift Stud-owned Ascot Stud-bred Mary’s Greenlight.
